Henry T. Elrod

Henry Talmage Elrod (27 September 1905-23 December 1941) was a Major of the US Marine Corps during World War II.

Biography
Henry Talmage Elrod was born on 27 September 1905 in Turner County, Georgia, United States. He enlisted the US Marine Corps in 1927 and served in the aviation of the Marine Corps at the start of World War II, and on 4 December 1941 he flew to Wake Island. On 12 December 1941, he shot down two out of 22 Imperial Japanese Navy planes while flying solo, and he was the first American to sink a Japanese ship, the destroyer Kisaragi. He was killed on 23 December 1941 while carrying ammunition during the Battle of Wake Island, and he was posthumously promoted from Captain to Major.